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For the second year in a row the University of Maine women’s soccer team fell one win shy of reaching the NCAA tournament. UMaine knocked off the third-seeded University of New Hampshire in the semifinals Friday with a well-played 2-0 victory that placed them in the finals against No. 1 seeded Binghamton. Unfortunately, the America East Tournament seeding turned out to be precisely correct as the No. 2 seeded UMaine fell to No. 1 seeded Binghamton 2-0 in the Championship game.
UMaine got a bye in the first round, forcing them to wait for the outcome of the game between UNH and sixth-seeded Hartford. UNH defeated Hartford convincingly 4-0 and earned the opportunity to face UMaine in the semifinals.
The two opponents battled to a 0-0 tie at the half. The Black Bears outshot the Wildcats 20-2 on the day and broke through in the 59th minute. Off a free kick by Emily Stevens, Marie-Andree Canuel was able to send a header into the back of the net for the first goal of the game. 10 minutes later Erin Corey played a ball to forward Heather Hathorn. Hathorn took the ball in the middle of the box, let a shot fly and found the back of the net giving UMaine the final goal of the match. America East’s top goalie Tanya Adorno earned another shutout with UMaine advancing to the America East Championship game.
In the other semifinal first-seeded Binghamton defeated Northeastern 3-0.
Playing on their home field, Binghamton proved to be too much for the Black Bears. Binghamton tallied the first goal on a penalty kick in the first half. Meghan Taylor took the kick and finished it off in the 34th minute giving Binghamton a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats never looked back. Binghamton added a second goal in the 77th minute, when forward Kelly Burnham took a past from Vicky Vernicek and sent a rocket pass Adorno for the tally. The shutout marked the second time this season the Black Bears have been blanked by the Bearcats.
UMaine finished the season with a 13-6-1 record overall and a 6-3 record for the regular season in America East play.
The game that may have played the biggest influence on the season for the Black Bears was a loss to Stony Brook in the final regular season game. With the loss UMaine lost sole possession of first place and saw home field advantage in the tournament handed to Binghamton. With a victory, the Black Bears would have home field for the America East tournament. The Black Bears were 6-1 at Alumni Field in Orono.
UMaine’s young team was represented best by America East Rookie of the Year and America East first team midfielder Marie-Andree Canuel. Canuel, who finished the year with 10 goals and two assists in just 17 games. She earned a .59 goals-per-game average on the year placing her 3rd. in America East UMaine Keeper Tanya Adorno finished the year with the lead in goals against average with a .55 mark on the year. Adorno was also tops in the conference in shutouts with nine. She was named second team goaltender in the America East Conference.
Bangor Daily News